Chapter 21

The next few days took on a delightful normalcy. Blue recovered enough to talk to Justice and Jacob, and they laid out what they hoped the New Species school would look like. The meeting was quick, but exciting. There was so much unknown about New Species development that she would have to stay flexible, changing and adjusting curriculum based on the way that New Species children learned.

Vengeance stayed close. He hadn't gone back to his job in the Wild Zone full time. He wanted to be with Blue. He found that he became anxious and snarly, (Fury's word), when he went too long without seeing her. He revelled in the sights, sounds, and scents of his new family. The only thing that was putting a damper on Vengeance's complete joy was the lack of mating papers.

He spoke to Justice at length about getting the papers to solidify his and Blue's mating, but because she had changed her name, and didn't want her ex-husband to know where she was, it was taking more time than he liked.

Blue didn't care. She told Vengeance that they were a family, nothing would ever pull them apart, but it mattered to him. He wanted the papers on his wall, he wanted to marry Blue in the human way. He wanted Asher and Blue to both take his last name.

Sal and Asher were excited to have the same last name. They said it made them cousins since they would both be "North's." But Vengeance couldn't help feeling worried. There was something about not having it that made him feel like his new life could be ripped away from him at any moment.

Since the summer had arrived, Vengeance found himself taking the boys to the creeks and streams so they could cool off. Asher's favorite move was one where Vengeance lifted him over his head, and then Asher dove, head first, behind Vengeance. Of course, it turned into more of a belly flop, but it made Asher happy. Vengeance was learning all about Asher and having experiences with him that no one else had before; jumping off of rocks, going climbing, trying a zipline. It was fatherhood, and it was changing Vengeance, shaping him into a better male.

At the end of one such excursion, Vengeance and Asher met Blue at the new school. She came out, carrying a huge tote bag. Vengeance could see giant binders and he rushed forward to take it from her. She sent him a grateful look.

"How's the planning going?" he asked.

"Great!" she enthused, "I've almost got the coursework set out for New Species interested in teaching. It's going to be offered twice, once during the day and once at night so it doesn't conflict with schedules. And the elementary school curriculum is coming along. I have a bunch of ordering to do, but Justice has been really generous. I've never had this much free rein with a classroom before. It's exhilarating!"

Vengeance smiled at her glee, but, "It's not too much? I worry about all this planning you're doing, isn't there anyone to help you?"
Blue shrugged, "Probably not right now, but after we do the introductory class? I bet that there are a bunch of New Species who'll want to take some of this on. We'll get there."

"You need to rest," Vengeance said, "You are still recovering from your injuries. I will talk to Justice about getting you some help."
He pulled their cart into their driveway and Blue put her hand on his arm, "I'm okay, Vengeance," she said, "I'm not afraid to ask for help if I need it."

Vengeance stifled a growl. He would talk to Justice anyway. It was his job to take care of his mate, and make sure that she wasn't tired or overextended.

Asher skipped along happily in front of them, carrying a towel over his shoulder and his water shoes in the other hand. When they got inside, Blue brought Asher right to the shower. For some reason she was always worried about him being dirty after jumping in the river. Vengeance didn't understand it. It was water. It was clean. But he didn't argue, if his mate wanted their son to shower, then that's what would happen. Beside, Asher smelled wonderful after his shower.

Vengeance took out dinner, throwing a steak on the grill for Blue and Asher, and waiting until the last minute to sear his. Asher chatted nonstop throughout dinner, stopping only to take a sip of milk. Vengeance had one of those moments where he felt like he was outside of himself, looking in. He couldn't believe this was his life. He grinned, and Blue, catching his eye, grinned back at him before reaching over and clasping his hand with hers.

They were just starting to pick up dinner when there was a knock on the door.

Tiger and Fury were there, both looking serious and angry.

Vengeance immediately went on high-alert, "What's going on?" he asked.

"We need to talk to you both," Fury said, "Where's Asher?"

Blue came in behind Vengeance when she heard their voices. She stopped short when she heard their question, and Vengeance could sense the wave of anxiety that encompassed her.

"He's playing in the backyard," Blue said, "why?"

"I don't think you want him to hear what we have to say," Fury replied.

Blue took hold of Vengeance's hand in both of hers, and he pulled her forward. He wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her hair, taking in her scent. He felt minimally better, but still on edge, as he led them all into the kitchen. He kept one eye on Asher as he played, and the other on the two males.

"Two policemen and a social worker from the Out World have come to the front gate. They have documents with them giving permission to take Asher to Tom Halpern," Tiger said bluntly.

Blue covered her mouth with her hand. Then stood up, and looked around, as if she wanted to grab Asher and a bag and just run.

Vengeance snarled, "No," his voice brooked no dissent, "He is my son. He won't leave here."
"I know," Tiger said, "Asher is New Species as far as we are concerned, but they came to the front gates. The cameras and reporters will be along soon. Justice's office has been told that Senator Halpern will be arriving soon as well. It's a shitshow." Tiger ran his hand over his face tiredly.

Waves of desperation and fear were rolling off of Blue, making it difficult for Vengeance to stifle his rage.

"Let me meet him at the gates," Vengeance said, "I will welcome him to Reservation."
Tiger smiled, "As much as I'd love to do that, Ven," he said, "it's not going to happen. If you were officially mated it would be so much easier."
"If he knows I'm here," Blue said, "It doesn't matter. I haven't been able to hide from him. Just get the papers and we'll sign them."

"They will arrive shortly," Fury replied tightly, "We assumed that would be your response. Senator Hill will also be arriving shortly. He's still with Jessie and Justice, as Jessie is expecting their child any day."

Vengeance nodded, "But he will not touch Asher. Nor will he come close to Blue."

Blue turned her back on the males, moving to the window and staring at Asher. Vengeance saw him wave at Blue, and Blue wave back. The lines of her shoulders and back were tight, and she had an arm wrapped around her middle, like she was holding herself together. He moved quickly to her and pulled her against his chest. He felt her relax, but her emotions were so overwhelming that it reminded Vengeance of pain.

Chapter 22

It was her worst nightmare come true.

Tom was going to come here, and he was going to put New Species at risk. If he claimed they were giving refuge to a kidnapper, that they were helping her keep him from his child, the hate groups would arrive full force. It could even put New Species independence at stake. It wouldn't be unheard of for the US government to grant land to a nation and then take it away when it suited them.

Ask any Native American.

The panic was rising up quicker and quicker and she felt ready to shake apart into a thousand pieces. Vengeance nuzzled into the side of her neck, "Calm," he said, "We have dealt with worse. We will deal with this."

Guilt swamped Blue, and she turned around in his arms to look at him, "I'm so sorry."

She looked over at Tiger and Fury, "I'm sorry," she apologized.

Tiger and Fury waved their hands as if brushing aside her words, "We are tough. While it is going to be difficult, we will be fine."

She tried to give them a grateful smile, but couldn't make her face move that way.

Fury's phone rang and he answered it briefly before turning to them, "Senator Halpern is here. He's requesting a meeting with Blue and Justice. He's surrounded by cameras at the front gate."

"No." Vengeance said forcefully.

"I have to," Blue said, turning to him, "We can't let him make anti-New Species statements with all those cameras around. Maybe…" she thought for a minute.

"Blue," Vengeance said, when she looked away from him, "I will not allow him near you."

Blue looked at him surprised, "I thought you would come with me," she said.

Vengeance nodded and turned to Tiger and Fury, "We will meet first with Justice. We need a plan. Bring Halpern in, but he can wait until we are ready to see him."

Tiger and Fury nodded, "Do you want me to bring Asher to our house? He can stay overnight with us."
"You've had him a lot, lately," Blue said. Another reason to feel guilty, she thought.

"He is easy," Fury said smiling, "We feed him, read to him, and he falls asleep. He actually keeps Sal in his room at night, because he wants to talk to Asher."

"Thank you," she said, but what she thought was oh god.

Chapter 23

Vengeance paced inside Justice's office. Their plan was about as good as it was going to get. They would let Halpern talk, and then they would send him on his way. They would deny that Asher was Halpern's, as far as they knew he had never seen Asher, and Blue produced his birth certificate, which had no father listed.

Jacob Hill, Justice, and Vengeance would all be present, with Tiger and Fury watching from surveillance monitors next door. They planned on recording everything, just in case.

"Is he being searched?" Blue asked, biting at her fingernail worriedly. In all the time Vengeance had known her, she'd never done that before, and it slayed him that she was so nervous that she did it now. If Halpern made one wrong move, just one, and Vengeance hoped he did, he would tear his throat out.

"Yes," Justice affirmed, "All humans visiting Reservation are searched."
"Take his cell phone, and check for recorders," she said, "He recorded an opponent's speech rearranged the words so he was saying something really racist and used it for a soundbite on the radio. His opponent withdrew from the race because no one believed him when he denied it. He'll probably try to do something similar here if he doesn't get his way."

"He won't be getting his way," Vengeance assured her, "He will be leaving. And if he is lucky. He will be leaving with his life and not in pieces."
Blue tried to smile at him, but failed miserably and ended up biting her lip to keep from crying.

Justice's phone rang on his desk and he answered it quickly and hung up, "He's here," he told them.

Vengeance stepped in front of Blue's body, shielding her with his own and Justice stepped from behind his desk. The two of them made for an intimidating sight.

The door opened and Senator Tom Halpern entered. Right behind him was a bodyguard, a professionally dressed woman, and Jacob Hill.

Vengeance saw Halpern scan the room, but he showed no trace of nervousness. In fact, despite facing two males who barely maintained their veneer of civility, he was remarkably unperturbed. Vengeance breathed in, and was disconcerted. All he could sense was Halpern's triumph, the man was almost deliriously happy.

"Gentleman," he greeted them, "Eliza."
Blue's hand moved down Vengeance's arm to grip his tightly, and she stepped next to him, not letting go of his hand.
Vengeance growled, "You don't speak to her."
Halpern, though by no means a small man, was still four or five inches shorter than Vengeance, and for the first time, seemed unsure of how to act or respond. He covered his discomfort by stepping back and raising his hands up, palms out, "Of course," he said, "I meant no disrespect."
Justice moved forward, "What do you want Senator Halpern?" he asked sternly.

The woman, who until now remained in the background, stepped forward, "I'm Senator Halpern's attorney, and I have a court decree stating that Asher Halpern, the biological son of Eliza and Tom Halpern, be returned to his father. The two police officers who accompanied us, and who weren't allowed into this meeting, are here to arrest Mrs. Halpern for kidnapping."

Vengeance felt a roar building deep in his chest. These humans would take both his mate and his son. They would put Blue in a cage. And they would give Asher to a man who didn't hesitate to hurt someone weaker and more fragile than him.

"No." His voice was barely human.

The woman continued on, not at all bothered by Vengeance's answer, "We are aware that Reservation is a sovereign nation at this time, but as Senator Hill will attest, there have been contracts of reciprocity drawn up between your two governments."
Vengeance had trouble following, but he had no trouble mistaking the look of triumph on Halpern's face.

Justice leaned against his desk, affecting the posture of someone unperturbed, "True," he answered, "We have made agreements with the U.S. government that allows us into the Out World in order to arrest former Mercile employees. However, Blue North is mated to a New Species male. And as such, is afford all the protection of New Species law."

Vengeance watched Halpern carefully, and there it was. Anger. Rage. Frustration at being denied what he wanted. It all passed over Halpern's face like a cloud, but was masked just as quickly.

"Eliza cannot be mated to a New Species," Halpern said, almost apologetically, "She is still married to me."
All Vengeance saw was red. He looked down at Blue, whose face had gone ghostly white, even down to her lips, but still she spoke.

"You didn't have to sign the papers Tom," Blue argued, "There was a limit on your denials, and I was diligent in my pursuit of this divorce. It was filed and notarized and I have copies here."

Blue reached out with trembling fingers, which she clenched into fists, and then released before getting the papers she had placed on Justice's desk. She passed a copy to Tom's lawyer, bypassing Tom's hand when he would have taken them.

The lawyer glanced at them briefly, "There are no such records on file at this courthouse," she said, "These are obviously forgeries."

Halpern reached out as Blue passed and took her wrist in his hand, stopping her from continuing back to Vengeance, "You don't have to stay here, Eliza. I'm not angry. Come home to me."

Blue's fear flooded the room, and all the New Species males acted on instinct, though Vengeance moved first.

He took the hand that clasped Blue's and bent the fingers until Halpern released her, "You do not speak to her, and you most certainly do not touch her."

Halpern's bodyguard moved to Vengeance and reached out to counter him.

"I would not touch him if I were you," Justice said coolly, "It is foolishness to touch a male's mate, and even more foolish to engage him when he is protective."
Vengeance threw off Halpern's hand and wrapped Blue in his arms, before taking her arm gently in his hands and kissing where Halpern had grabbed her. Though Vengeance hadn't seen him exert pressure on Blue, five clear fingerprints stood out on her skin.

That was it.

Vengeance was done.

He roared and moving Blue behind him, launched himself at Halpern. He grabbed his throat with one hand and had him easily pinned against the wall. He snarled in his face, baring his sharp teeth, the ones he tried to hide from humans, the ones that made it quite clear that Vengeance was more than human.

Finally, Halpern reacted. Vengeance could smell his fear and anger. His rage and dismay.

"She's my wife!" he ground out at Vengeance.

"She is not," Vengeance said, "She is my mate. And if you come near her again, I will tear out your throat."
Senator Jacob Hill cleared his throat, and the rest of the room came into focus. He saw that Halpern's bodyguard had been subdued by Justice, and the female lawyer stood behind Hill, with her arms crossed. Blue stood nearby, her arms wrapped around herself, with one hand to her mouth, trying to stop herself from crying out.

"Senator Halpern," Hill started, "If I may…" he looked pointedly at Vengeance, who slowly lowered him to the ground.

Halpern shrugged away from him quickly, adjusting his jacket and straightening his tie, before smoothing down his hair.

"I can't imagine you have anything to say that will have any bearing on the facts, Senator," Halpern said, "My wife is hiding my son from me. She has taken him to Reservation, which I have so generously supported during my time in office. I have been assaulted, and New Species have refused to follow the terms laid out in the court proceedings…."

He would have gone on, but Hill interrupted him, pulling an envelope from his jacket, "Yes, yes. That would be the way it seems, wouldn't it Senator, except…"
Hill opened the envelope and began laying documents and pictures on Justice's desk. The first was a series of photographs that nearly brought Vengeance to his knees. It was Blue, several years ago. She was thinner, and blonde; her dark eyebrows contrasting sharply with her light hair. She was still lovely, but incredibly haunted looking.

And the bruises.

A series of bruises around her eyes, wrists, shoulders, back…Vengeance could feel himself slipping, but Blue wrapped her arms around him, and her scent surrounded him, bringing him back to himself. Her lips were split, and the small white scars that were barely noticeable now, were in technicolor in the pictures. It looked as though someone had thrown red paint and splattered Blue with it.

She cleared her throat, "Those are pictures from the emergency room," she said, "after he threw me into the china cabinet."

Vengeance heard a low growl next to him, and saw Justice staring down Halpern. His eyes narrowed, "You piece of shit," he said.

The next was a document from the ER. Words stood out to Vengeance, and though he didn't read each sentence, the words themselves made the event clear: contusions, vaginal tearing, consistent with nonconsensual...

He moved to Halpern without conscious thought, "Please don't," Blue said, stopping him in a small voice that told him just difficult it was for her to keep herself together.

"A husband can't rape his wife," Halpern threw out.

"Shut up, you idiot," the lawyer snapped, "Where did you get these?"

Hill smiled, and Vengeance was almost afraid of him in that moment, "Blue is my family. I will do whatever it takes to protect my family. And Senator Halpern's tendency to make unflattering or unwanted information disappear is well known on Capitol Hill."

"I take it you are threatening to go public with this information," she continued, "if we pursue custody of the child?"

"Abso-fucking-lutely," Hill said with a cold smile.

The lawyer stood and returned the smile, "I think we understand each other, Senator Hill. I would like more time to discuss this with my client," she nodded to Halpern, "I'm sure we can come up with terms that are acceptable to both parties."

Hill nodded, "I'm sure we can."
Halpern looked angrily and in disbelief between Hill and his lawyer, "I'm not leaving here without my son."

"For god's sake, Tom!" the woman said, "You could lose everything if you continue with this!"

"That is my fucking wife!" Halpern said, pointing at Blue, "And my fucking son is here somewhere. I told you, I'm not leaving without them!"

Vengeance moved forward, his teeth bared, his voice a barely audible growl, "You can leave with your life," he said, "consider yourself extremely lucky. No other male here would allow that, knowing what you had done to their mate."

Whatever shown in Vengeance's face got through to Halpern, when everything else didn't, "Fine," he said, "but we aren't finished. I'll get my son one way or another."
He turned to the door, his bodyguard quickly opening it, and his lawyer following closely behind, "And Eliza," he said, at the last minute, "you look fat."

Blue barked out a surprised laugh, "Fuck you, Tom," she said.

His lawyer physically pushed him out the door before the door closed behind them.

Chapter 24

"Are we done here?" Vengeance asked.

Blue could detect a note of desperation in his voice.

"Yes," Justice said, "Take your mate home." He reached into his desk, "Here are your mating papers, congratulations."

Vengeance swept Blue up in his arms, moving quickly and saying nothing to the New Species they passed. He didn't put her down until they reached the golf cart, and even then, he moved as fast as he could to the driver's seat.

"Vengeance?" Blue asked, concerned.

"I am barely in control, right now, Blue," Vengeance growled.

Blue clamped her lips shut, and moved to cross her arms over her middle, but when her hand moved, Vengeance took it. He pulled it up to his face and inhaled her scent. Then he kissed her wrist gently, before holding tightly to her hand.

Blue understood. He was so angry, he was having trouble controlling his instincts, but he wasn't angry at her.

"I love you so much," she whispered to him.

Vengeance glanced at her quickly before returning his eyes to the road, but he didn't answer.

When they got to their house, Vengeance pulled her into his arms and sprinted up the steps. He kicked the door shut behind him and strode purposefully into their bedroom, before placing Blue on the bed.

"I'm sorry," he said, "I am not calm."
Blue sat up and began ripping off her clothes. She pulled off her shoes, and tore at her shirt and pants.

"You don't have to be in control with me," she told him. She reached behind her back to unclasp her bra and Vengeance was on her.

"I will try to be gentle," he said, as he consumed her mouth, his tongue delving deep before sucking hers. He bit her lips and moved quickly down her neck to her breasts. He groaned and one hand moved down her stomach and under the waist of her panties. He slipped one long finger into her.

"I don't want you to be gentle," Blue gasped.

Blue arched into his hand, and tugged his hair, bringing his face back to hers.

He snarled and his hand moved, bunching her panties in his hand and then tearing them away. He flipped her onto her stomach and curled his body around hers. Blue felt him knee her thighs apart, and settle between them. His hands rubbed up and down her back. He was so hard he didn't even need to position his cock. It found her wet entrance and he slid home in one smooth hard thrust.

Vengeance roared loudly. Blue pushed back into the cradle of his hips, seeking more of him. He withdrew and thrust gently.

Blue tried to counter his thrusts, moving her arms and attempting to leverage herself harder into him.

"Blue," Vengeance said warningly.

"Show me I'm yours," Blue said desperately.
Vengeance lost control. His mouth moved to her shoulder and she felt his teeth in sink deep. The warmth of pain was lost a moment later when he began pumping into her, seating himself so deep that Blue could feel him at the mouth of her womb.

She moved her hips, but Vengeance growled, his hand moving to her hip to hold her in place as he slammed in and out of her wildly. Blue felt her orgasm building; tingles that began in her fingers and toes rushed up her body and shattered wildly in her center. She heard herself cry out; heard Vengeance's answering cry. It went on and on, aftershock following aftershock as Vengeance filled her full of hot semen.

He made a move to lift his weight off of her, but Blue linked her fingers with his, and when he would have withdrawn from her body, Blue clamped her inner muscles around him tightly.

"Don't leave me yet," she begged.

Vengeance licked her shoulder, moving her hair to the side and kissing the wound he had made, "Never," he answered, and began another slow possession of her body. One that would last all night.

Epilogue

New Species weddings weren't new on Reservation, but they were to the Wild Zone. Blue knew how important the Wild Zone residents were to Vengeance, and she wanted to find a way to include them. It didn't feel right, she had told Vengeance, not to invite them.

So here they now stood, in a field separating the Wild Zone from the rest of Reservation. Every once in a while, Blue would see a flash of skin in the forest, a curious resident peeking out. Food and drink were available closer to the forest, and then more centrally located.

Blue and Vengeance had repeated their vows under an arbor that he had made with Asher. It tilted precariously to one side, had a mix of wildflowers and super hero symbols decorating it, and was absolutely perfect.

Asher played happily with the other New Species children: his cousins, he claimed. All of them teetering on the edge of a sugar coma after eating more wedding cake than was good for them. Vengeance held Blue in his arms near the band they had hired to play, and gently swayed back and forth.

Blue sighed happily and laid her cheek on Vengeance's chest, listening to his heart beat.

"Happy?" he asked her, bending his head near hers and laying his cheek on her sweet smelling hair.

"You know I am," she laughed, "You?"

"Always," he answered.

Thank you so much for reading! I have more ideas for New Species stories that will definitely revisit Blue and Vengeance. Please review and let me know if you want to read more!